"Its encouraging that retail performance has improved across all sectors since mid-2013," he said.

The survey's figures reflect the latest retail spending figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics which had total retail spending up 4.9 per cent in the 12 months to February, seasonally adjusted.

The AFGC/CHEP report said that the only part of the retail sector that is struggling is department stores, which is continuing to lose market share.

The strongest improvement is in household goods, with sales growth of around five per, cent and clothing retail, up seven per cent.